The Coulter's Matilija poppy (Romneya coulteri), a California/Baja native plant, is a paradox. It is described as both difficult to grow and invasive. How can that be? Years ago, I decided the poppy was the plant for me because of the second attribute.
During the summer of 2023, I did a lot of traveling, and my garden didn't get the oversight it needed. I say oversight because my yard has a mind of its own. Just before I took off, I looked around the place and noticed a flash of red stems near the back.
I've been eager to satisfy my appetite for English gardens since visiting the Cotswolds region earlier this year. Fortunately, one doesn't need to travel to the U.K. to experience such a place. We have a great example in Northern California.
Okay, be honest. When you have a plant that is not doing well and you look for help from your favorite book, website, or YouTube source, and they start talking about pH, do your eyes roll back? First, let's define the term.
